Heat exchange device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a solution for increasing the effectiveness of cooling and freezing processes in a heat exchange device. One of the important requirements of a heat exchange device is to keep a uniform temperature on the surface during the process. The achievement of approximately uniform temperature on the surface of the heat exchange device and on both its bottom and upper is possible with the use of a special cross-sectional form of the channels for refrigerant flow.

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchange device and, particularly, to a heat exchanger for a plate freezer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A heat exchange device in the form of a plate in which fluid flows is usually used as an effective heat exchanger for cooling and freezing of different products. It is necessary to provide uniform temperature on the surface of the plates for effective cooling or freezing of the product.

[0003] In the heat exchange device disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,892 a refrigerant flows through a network of channels connected inside the device. The temperature on the surface of said device differ from one region on the surface to another. Moreover, the heat exchange on the bottom side of the device is greater than on the upper side, due to the collection of vapor at the top of the channel. Since the width of the channels is greater than the height, the heat exchange through the lateral faces is limited, resulting in inefficiency of the device.

[0004] Accordingly, a need exists for a device that provides for the effective cooling and freezing of different products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention increases the effectiveness of a heat exchange device.

[0006] The achievement of approximately uniform temperature on the surface of the heat exchange device and heat exchange from both bottom and upper sides is possible due to the use of a special form of cross section of the channels for the refrigerant to flow, where the height of the channel is greater than the width. As a result of this design the heat exchange on the upper side of the device is not limited by the surface of the channel's lateral sides in spite of the collection of the refrigerant vapor at the top of the channels. The form of the channel's cross-section can be polygonal, out-of-round, elliptical, cross-shaped, star-shaped, round-shaped and any combination of the above. According to the second embodiment of the present invention, additional channels sealed and free from refrigerant flow are placed between other channels containing refrigerant in order to reduce the weight of the device.

[0007] The above described, and many other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] A detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0009]FIG. 1 shows the heat exchange device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 shows the cross section of the channels of a heat exchange device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 3 shows the cross section of the channels of the heat exchange device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The following is a detailed description of the best presently known mode of carrying out this invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention is detailed by the appended claims.

[0013] The heat exchange device shown on FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is comprised of a body 1 with upper side 9 and lower side 10, respectively, inside channels 4 with a cross sectional height greater than the width, top 7, bottom 11, lateral sides 8, supply header 6 with inlet 5, and discharge header 2 with outlet 3.

[0014] Refrigerant enters supply header 6 through inlet 5 and flows through channels 4 inside body 1. Part of the refrigerant in the channels 4 evaporates and vapor accumulates at top 7 of channel 4. However, due to the special construction of channels 4 with the height greater than the width, heat input to the refrigerant flowing through channels 4 is not limited by the size of lateral sides 8 of channels 4. Therefore, the heat exchange on the surface of the device and upper side 9 of the device is not limited by the larger surface area of lateral sides 8 of channels 4 and approximately the same as heat exchange on the surface of the device and on the down side 10 of the device. A mixture of vapor and liquid refrigerant flows into outlet 3 via header 2.

[0015] According to the second embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 3) additional channels 12, sealed on the sides and free of refrigerant, are placed between channels 4, containing refrigerant, in order to reduce the weight of the device.

[0016] Although the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments above, numerous modifications and/or additions to the above described preferred embodiments would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the scope of the present invention extends to all such modifications and/or additions and that the scope of the present invention is limited solely by the claim set forth below. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat exchange device comprised of a body with upper and lower sides, inside channels including a top, a bottom and lateral sides, supply header with an inlet, and discharge header with an outlet while said channels having a cross-sectional height greater than the width.
 2. A heat exchange device, according to claim 1, with the form of said channels' cross-section is polygonal, oval, elliptical, cross-shaped, star-shaped, round-shaped and any combination of the above.
 3. A heat exchange device according to the claim 1, with additional channels, sealed on the sides and free of refrigerant, said device is placed between the channels containing refrigerant. 